Sen. Koko Pimentel. Bibo Nueva España, Senate PRIB/File

MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III is seeking a caucus of all senators so they can discuss and decide as a body on whether they should start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte now or in June. 

He said that the meeting would not be as an impeachment court, but just so senators can discuss the matter. He said senators had not had the chance to do that before Congress went on recess. 

Pimentel said that caucus would also give senators a chance to state their position on impeachment, including his own that the trial can proceed even if Congress is not in session.

"Because if this is really a political question, then therefore it is a legitimate political issue. Diba? For the people, " Pimentel said.

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He said he would reach out to Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero "so that the Senate president can focus every senator's attention on this matter", adding the dates and timeline of the impeachment trial would still be up to Senate leadership. 

Congress is on recess and some members of the Senate are focused on their election campaigns or on supporting those of others.

Pimentel also pointed out that the House of Representatives transmitted the articles of impeachment on the last day of session.

"'Yun, hindi namin kasalanan 'yun (Now that isn't our doing). Do not blame the Senate on when the articles of impeachment were filed," he said.

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Pimentel urged his colleagues running in the 2025 national elections to set aside their campaigns and focus on the impeachment, which he said is "part of the job description."

Pimentel, a lawyer, earlier wrote the Senate chief to insist that the Senate begin trial without delay, which would be the literal interpretation of the 1987 Constitution.

"Ang makikita mo sa current impeachment rules ng Senate, itong hawak ko Resolution No. 39 ay kung basahin mo 'yan, you do not get the impression that the Senate must be in session as a legislative body," he also said.

(If you look at the current impeachment rules of the Senate, this Resolution No. 39 that I'm holding, if you read it  you do not get the impression that the Senate must be in session as a legislative body)

He said that his reading of the constitution also suggests that "there is no requirement that you must be in legislative session," adding the Senate as a legislative body and as an impeachment court are different and separate things. 

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Pimentel, however, conceded the matter will be up to debate among the senators.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, for her, part backed Pimentel's position that the constitution requires senators to convene at once.

"So regardless kung sino mang public official ang impeached, regardless kung babae siya o lalaki siya, sa tingin ko, sang-ayon kay Sen. Koko, may malinaw po kaming tungkulin," she said.

(Regardless of who has been impeached, I think I am with Sen. Koko that we have a clear obligation) 

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Pimentel maintained that taking the matter up in June would be too long a wait and would expose the Senate to "unnecessary criticism".

While Pimentel recognizes Escudero's intention to be cautious, the minority leader insisted he has basis to argue that the Senate need not be in session as a legislative body for the impeachment to be tackled.

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He added the Senate can hold a special session on its own, even without a call from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to. 

"Sana March. March na. Kasi medyo prepared. Prepared naman si SP na. Pinareview na niya ang rules. So madali naman 'yun," he also said.

(I hope we can start by March because we'll be more or less prepared. The Senate president is ready, he has already called for a review of the rules. That will be easy)

He said the rest of the process can slow down as long as the impeachment court gets to convene as soon as possible.

"Hindi pa siguro mauupo yung witness sa witness stand. Basta nag-umpisa na yung trial. In the sense na pasagutin mo na si impeached official, pasagutin mo tapos ipa-respond mo si prosecutors," he said.

(Maybe the witness will not yet take the witness stand, but the trial must have already started. In the sense that the impeached official is told to respond, and then the prosecutors can respond in turn)

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